October 17, 2007
By Chuck Abrams

Chuck Abrams

Normally, we’d have seen the 48 team cruising to another easy victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway since the team has five wins and nine top 10 finishes in the last five years at that track. But this has all the earmarks of the 'Year of Gordon' as Jeff Gordon backed up his last lap win at Talladega with a remarkable win at Lowe’s on Saturday night.

It was a remarkable evening overall with Dave Blaney chalking up another top 10 run as well as Michael Waltrip, David Stremme and Kasey Kahne with top 10 finishes of their own.

Gordon’s win appeared all the more amazing since it looked like Ryan Newman was going to get his first win of the year after a bad restart by Gordon near the end of the race. Newman swung past the leaders like he was shot out of a canon and he totally checked out on the pack -- until he either over drove the turn or lost a rear tire and backed into the wall ending his fleeting glimpse of victory. Believe whichever report you like on how he ended up that way.

The bottom line is this – Jeff Gordon avoided his own troubles and once again took advantage of another’s misfortune to chalk up his sixth victory of the year -- tying him with Jimmie Johnson for most victories. So far.

Gordon appears to have all the stars lined up in his favor. New marriage, new baby and he leads the Chase -- still. Add to that the mix of tracks coming up – Martinsville where he is again tied with Johnson for most wins the in past five years, Atlanta where he averages a 12.2 finish, Texas where he averages a top 10 and finished 4th earlier this year, Phoenix where he leads all drivers in average finishes the last five years -- Homestead where he averages a top 10 run as well. That is tough for the competition, at least what is left of it.

Only Bowyer and Johnson appear to have any real hope of making a race of it this year and that in itself is somewhat remarkable in itself considering this is Bowyer’s first Chase and he has only one win.

Kenseth has been anything but consistent – except maybe consistently inconsistent. Many thought Stewart was the man to beat this year and he has proven that top 10 runs and a single DNF in the Chase will leave you 200 points back of the guy who is winning and making top 5 runs seem like child’s play.

It is by no means a done deal as I pointed out last week. But the rest of the field has a long row to hoe to beat Gordon and the 24 team the rest of the way. They are peaking at just the right time and have had luck fall on their side every week. Kurt Busch won his title by beating the odds and snatching victory from the jaws of catastrophe at every opportunity. Gordon may do the same. Plus a few extra wins and leading in top 10 finishes along the way won’t hurt either.

Let me know your thoughts on this or any other racing topic.

Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.

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